On July 12th 2010, the American underground comic book writer and music critic Harvey Pekar passed away, aged 70. He worked most of his adult life as a filing clerk in a veterans hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. He was of course better known for his creation of American Splendor, a series of comics which documented his day to day struggles and achievements on the streets of Cleveland.
The film stars the ever brilliant Paul Giamatti as Harvey, documenting his life and his thought and how he came to write an autobiographical comic about an average life. The film is narrated by Harvey himself and is interspersed with archive and modern footage of Harvey and his friends and colleagues and interviews he gave for the film. While jarring at first, it quickly grows on you because you get to see all of the weird and wonderful people in the flesh and compare them to the actor playing them. It is a minor triumph. It quickly becomes apparent, even if you are unfamiliar with Harvey's work, that he is a morose and naturally depressive character, even in his own words.
The real heart of the movie and what makes it a little gem, is that while Harvey is a depressive grouch, he comes to realize that it is the little moments of ordinary life that make it worthwhile. This is what he sought to portray in his work, the ordinary struggles of an everyday man just to live. In his own words:
"Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff"
American Splendor, the comic, is unlike anything else out there. Its real, there are no super heroes who will save the day. Indeed, Harvey went on to document his struggles with cancer which I think was a particularly brave move. The scenes with his wife and collaborator, are touching and at times very funny. They seem to have been made for each other, though of course they had their ups and downs and this is borne out by the interview with the two of them in the film and Hope Davis is excellent as Joyce, portraying her. as somebody who was half frustrated, half in love with Harvey. The funniest scenes are between the two of them with Giamatti delivering some great deadpan lines.
I have to say I loved this film. Harvey Pekar was a very engaging character and Paul Giamatti captures him perfectly by all accounts. He captured the simple nobility in living an ordinary life, working hard and hoping that something good will come of it. Though even at the end, Harvey refuses to see the bright side of life, but then I suppose that's what made him how he was, made American Splendor what it was. As the man said:
"The theme is about staying alive. Getting a job, finding a mate, having a place to live, finding a creative outlet. Life is a war of attrition. You have to stay active on all fronts. It's one thing after another. I've tried to control a chaotic universe. And it's a losing battle. But I can't let go. I've tried, but I can't"
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